Artur Beterbiev still disagrees with the outcome of his rematch against Dmitri Bivol and believes he did better in the second fight than he did in their first encounter.
The former undisputed light heavyweight champion has also made it clear that he wants a third fight with Bivol and is confident that he will put on an even stronger performance if the rivalry is settled back in the ring.
“I want a rubber match. If third fight happens, I will do better than both of them. I believe I won the second fight better than the first one,” Beterbiev told the Inside Ring Show.
Beterbiev defeated Bivol by majority decision in October 2024 to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion. Four months later, Bivol got revenge with a majority decision win in their rematch, handing Beterbiev the first loss of his professional career and leveling the streak at one win apiece.
The two fights were some of the closest championship fights in recent years, with opinion divided among fans and media on both decisions. Beterbiev maintained throughout that he did enough to win the rematch, despite the judges awarding the fight to Bivol.
A third fight has been discussed since the rematch was completed, although no official announcement has been made. The outcome could also affect the immediate future of WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, who has long been linked to a showdown with the winner of the Beterbiev-Bivol rivalry.
Despite the official result, Beterbiev remains convinced that he did enough to win the rematch and believes his performance was stronger than in the first fight. With the rivalry level at one win on paper, the 41-year-old is pushing for a third meeting and says he will perform even better if given another opportunity against Bivol.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 06/24/2026 at 02:45
